What does a victim of sexual slavery look like? We have all watched police dramas where the local prostitute is interviewed and usually seems to be a 30-plus highly painted individual complete with scanty clothes and a brash manner.
Sexual slaves however don’t necessarily look like this at all. To begin with, although here in the UK there are many slave girls imported from the continent there are also a growing numbers of local British girls being drawn into the trade. A lot of these will be underage teens who have got into the clutches of slave gangs via social media where they have been deceived into thinking that the men who are grooming them are young and deeply in love with them. This is a growing and very worrying trend.
The British police have said that by September this year 7000 such girls who have been entrapped in this way, have been reported to them. Obviously this is just the tip of the iceberg. It is happening all around us. I have myself watched this happen in a seedy café where a young teenager was being deeply flattered by an older man who was obviously posing as her boyfriend much to the envy of the girl’s very young friend. One such young girl after several years of abuse said ‘They’ve changed me as a person.’
What a tragedy that such irrevocable damage can be done before a girl is even out of her teenage years. Those years which should have been filled with happiness and vibrant life. The same girl, although she has broken free lives in mortal danger of being spotted by one of the former gang members.
I have written a novel about this in order to raise awareness of the problem. Please read it and recommend to your friends. It is called, ‘The Garden of Sparkling Delight,’ by Deborah Varen. Available from Amazon in paperback and on the Kindle e-reader. All profits from this book go to waging war on sexual slavery. Please recommend the book to your friends. This will help raise awareness of this dreadful and growing problem in the UK and round the world.
To listen for FREE to the whole story and find out what happens to one of these trapped people, the main character 'Tis' her family and friends you can use this link to The Podcast or go to the links at the top of this WEB page and select 'Tis The Podcast'. There you can listen to the 21 half hours episodes on-line or download for later listening and sharing. This story will enable you to walk in the shoes of the sexual slave.
For up to date information from those working to end this trade and support victims contact:-
ECPAT www.ecpat.org.uk [End Child Pornography and Trafficking] is active in the UK and several other countries. It specialises is lobbying, campaigning and supporting rescued slaves.
The A21 Campaign www.thea21campaign.org - this is a global NGO that fights to abolish injustice in the 21st century. Its focus is on those affected by human trafficking and it runs prevention and protection schemes throughout Europe, Australia and USA.
The Salvation Army www.salvationarmy.org.uk/modern-slavery/am-i-safe-now
Stop the Traffik www.stopthetraffik.org - A global movement of individuals communities and organizations fighting to prevent human trafficking around the world.
Meninadanca www.meninadanca.org - This society fights child prostitution along the remote arterial highways of Brazil. They also provide a place of safety where rescued girls can go and be rehabilitated.
Plenty here to show your support and some of these charities need practical helpers.
Thank you for reading this blog and please share with others.
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